Heater for automobiles



Feb. 5, 1935. A. H. BATES 1,990,364

HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 20, 1928 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 0 HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES Application July 20, 1928, Serial No. 294,076

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a heater for automotive vehicles generally and has particular reference to one utilizing the heat in the water of the engine cooling system.

Heaters of the kind referred to .have usually been mounted under the cowl on the dash. This method of installation presented various difiiculties particularly in certain makes of cars because of the numerous appurtenances invariably mounted on the dash or having connections extending therethrough. In fact, such heaters could not be installed in one certain well known make of cars where the gasoline tank is mounted under the cowl and there is, therefore, no spare room for a heater.- Aside from the matter of difiiculties in installation there is a further objection to a heater installed under the cowl, namely, that lower heating efiiciency results from the fact that the water circulated through the heater, even though taken from the engine jacket at a point where the water attains the highest temperature, is bound to suffer a temperature drop before it reaches the heater because of its having to be conducted through a fairly long pipe under the hood where the pipe is subjected to a strong cold air draft.

It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide an air heater installed under the hood, preferably directly between the engine and its radiator, and having a hot air conduit leading therefrom and, discharging through a register mounted on the dash, the air heater being in the form of a radiator of any standard type affording good heat transfer from the hot water of the engine cooling system to the fresh cold air to be heated and being, furthermore, preferably disposed within the fan circle closely behind the fan so as to have an adequate induced draft of air therethrough. A heater so installed has much higher eficiency because the water used is at the highest available temperature and there is no temperature loss in the conducting of the wate to the radiator. Furthermore, this installation avoids all interference with appurtenances mounted on the dash, only one small hole being required for a hot air register instead of a number of holes otherwise required and water pipe connections being entirely eliminated. The cost of installation is, therefore, considerably reduced, not to mention the reduction in the cost of the unit itself.

The other heaters referred to were, moreover, hard to regulate or control to suit individual requirements, the controls provided ranging from valves controlling the flow of the hot water through the air heating radiator to the use of a separate motor driven fan having a rheostat for controlling the speed of operation thereof, all being more or less complicated, impractical, and

rather costly. It is, therefore, still another object of my invention to simplify the matter of temperature control by using merely an ordinary hot air register similar to the well known type used in connection with exhaust heaters, the same being inexpensive, easy to install, simple to manipulate, and affording the. desired range of temperature variations and likewise permitting the heater to be turned off entirely whenever desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary section through the front end of an a'utomcbile showing the installation of my improved heater in the novel manner generally described above;

Fig. 2 is a section through a modified or alternative form of air heating radiator, the same being of the air-tube type instead of the water-tube'type shown in Fig. l, and being elongated so as to afford substantially the same radiation area; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a still further modified or alternative form of air heating radiator, the same being of the water-tube type.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, an engine is diagrammatically shown at 5 beneath a hood 6 behind the radiator 7. The fan 8 driven bythe engine, by means of fan belt 9, induces a draft of air through the radiator 7, a sheet metal shroud 10 being preferably provided on the back of the radiator '7 having an opening of about the diameter of the fan circle for a well known purpose. The dash is represented at 11, the cowl at 12, and the toeboard at 13, the location of a gasoline tank being indicated at 14 beneath the cowl 12 for a certain well known make of car, although, of couse, the air heater of the present invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 15, is not limited to use with any particularmake, but, as a matter of fact, is practically universally applicable to automotive vehicles generally. The heater 15 comprisesa radiator 16 which, in the present instance, is shown as being of the water-tube type although it will be evident that a radiator of any preferred orstandard construction, such as an air-tube or honeycomb radiator, might be used to about equal advantage-1 The water tubes 17 of the radiator 16 communicate with top and bottom headers 18 and 19, respectively, forming a part of the shell thereof and have transverse fins 20 to afford ample radiation surface. The bottom header 19, in accordanace with my invention, has direct connection at 21 with the engine head, being suitably bolted as represented at 22, onto the boss 23 onto which the casting for the top hose connection is otherwise bolted. The connection between the lower end of the jacket of the engine 5 and the bottom of the radiator 7 is not shown but it will be evident that any ordinary hose connection might be provided or a connection might be made through a water pump in the usual way. The top header 18 in accordance with my invention has direct connection with the top of the radiator 7 at 24, a short piece of rubber hose 25 being used preferably between the tube 24 and the neck 26 provided on the top header 18, and hose clamps 27 being applied to the ends of the hose 25 to insure water-tight joints in a well known manner. A sheet metal funnel-shaped shroud 28 is fastened suitably to the back of the shell of the air heating radiator 16 and has a sheet metal conduit 29 connected thereto and extending rearwardly to the dash 11 for connection with a hot air register 30. The latter may be of any suitable or preferred type permitting of variation of the draft therethrough by shifting of a knob 31, or the like. Various types of hot air registers, such as those used in connection with exhaust heaters, are suitable.

In operation, it will be seen that the water flowing through the air heating radiator 16-is at the highest available temperature so far as the engine cooling system is concerned. In fact, a certain minimum temperature is insured in most cooling systems for eflicient operation of the engine, a thermostat such as that indicated diagrammatically at 32 being provided in the outlet connection and serving to hold a valve, such as the butterfly valve 33, in closed position, especially when the engine has just been started, until the water attains a predetermined temperature consistent with eflicient operation of the engine. The thermostat 32 may be provided either as an assembled part of the heater unit as herein shown or may form a part of the radiator assembly, it being quite common to provide a thermostat in the upper radiator connection. Manifestly, there is no temperature loss due to remote location of the air heating radiator, as was otherwise the case, as outlined above, so that the all-around efliciency is proportionately increased. Now, it is also evident that there will be a good draft of air induced to flow through the air heating radiator by reason of its being disposed within the fan circle and immediately behind the fan. Pure fresh air im- .mediately after being drawn through the radiator '7 by the action of the fan 8, and having its temperature raised perceptibly as a result thereof, is passing through the air heating radiator 16, where its temperature is raised much higher, and flows through the register 30 into the. tonneau-of the automobile. The temperature in the tonneau can easily be controlled to suit the individuals preference by setting the register by means of the knob 31. It will be seen that a heater conforming to my invention may be furnished at much lower cost than heaters of the types heretofore available, primarily because of the elimination of the water pipe connections, special means for mounting the radiator on the dashand special means for controlling the temperature. The fact that only one fairly small hole in the dash is required for the register simplifies the matter of installation considerably as well as reducing the cost as compared with what was involved with the other heaters installed in the ways above described. In summer driving or in unseasonably warm weather, the register 30 may be closed entirely so as to shut off the draft of hot air; it is not necessary to make any other alteration whatever.

The air heater 15' shown in Fig. 2, is generally similar to the heater 15 except that the air heating radiator 16 thereof is of the air-tube type and accordingly has to be more elongated to provide the same amount of radiation surface so that the air passing through the tubes 17 will be raised to about the same temperature as air passed over the fins 20 in the case of the radiator 16. The shell 34 of the radiator 16 is arranged to have hot water pass therethrough about the tubes 17 from the inlet 21' to the outlet 26, the former.

being bolted, as shown at 22, to the boss 23 on the engine head as in the case of the radiator l6,and the latter being arranged to have connection with the radiator '7 as in the case of the radiator 16.,

The shroud 28 connected to the back of the shell 34 of the radiator 16' conducts the heated air to the conduit 29 for passage through the hot air register in the manner above described.

In both of the air heating radiators just described the air path therethrough is substantially horizontal. The constructions involved with that end in view might, however, prove more expensive than one constructed without particular regard to the direction of the air path therethrough such' as that shown in Fig. 3. This air heater 15" has the air heating radiator 16" set inclined so as to. reach in a direct line from the inlet connection 21" to the outlet connection 26". The latter communicate with the top and bottom headers 18" and 19", respectively, as indicated, this particular radiator being of the water-tube type similar to the radiator 16 and having the tubes 17" thereof extending between the headers with transverse fins 20" mounted thereon. A shroud 28' is shown as fastened on the back of the radiator and communicating with a conduit 29 for conducting the heated air to the tonneau of the car. Where the engine fan 8 is of good design it is believed that there will be a suflicient draft of air through the air heating radiator for all practical purposes despite the inclination thereof. If, however, the inclination of the fins 20" appears to be too great for efllcient operation theymight be placed diagonally with reference to the tubes 17" so as to be more nearly horizontal and in certain installations might even be disposed substantially horizontal.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys embodiedin three different forms it is capable of still further variations such as will no'doubt appear to those skilledin the art to which this invention relates, especially after this disclosure- The appended claims have, therefore, been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations coming within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

. 1. In an automotive vehicle comprising an engine. compartment, and a passenger compartment separated therefrom by a'partition wall, the

the purpose of cooling the same, a second radiator in the engine compartment having the fluid passed therethrough in flowing between the jacket'and the first radiator, the second radiator serving primarily as an air heating radiator and having air to be heated passed over the heat radiating surfaces thereof, and an air conduit in the engine compartment for conducting the heated air from the second radiator through the partition wall into the passenger compartment.

2. In an automotive vehicle comprising an engine compartment, and a passenger compartment separated therefrom by a partition wall, the combination of an engine in the engine compartment having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a fluid cooling medium, a radiator for the front of the engine compartment having a top inlet and bottom outlet communicating with said jacket for the passage therethrough of fluid from said jacket for the purpose of cooling the same, a second radiator disposed above the engine in the engine compartment for the passage of the hottest fluid therethrough directly from the jacket in flowing to the top inlet of the first radiator, the second radiator serving primarily as an air heating radiator and having air to be heated passed over the heat radiating surfaces thereof, and a conduit in the engine compartment for conducting the heated air from the second radiator through the partition wall into the passenger compartment.

3. In an automotive vehicle comprising an en-' gine compartment, and a passenger compartment separated therefrom by a partition wall, the combination of an engine in the engine compartment having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a fluid cooling medium; a radiator for the front of the engine compartment having a top inlet and bottom outlet communicating with said jacket for the passage therethrough of fluid from said jacket for the purpose of cooling the same, an engine driven fan behind the radiator in front of the engine for drawing air through said radiator to abstract heattherefrom, a second radiator in the engine compartment behind the fan so as to have the air that is preheated by the first radiator passed over the heat radiating surfaces thereof in the operation of the fan, the second radiator being primarily for the purpose of air heating and serving to heat the preheated air to a higher temperature, the second radiator having fluid passed therethrough from the outlet of the engine jacket in flowing to the top inlet of the first radiator, and an air conduit for conducting the heated air from the second radiator through the partition bination of an engine in the engine compartment having a jacket for the circulation therethrough of a fluid cooling medium, a radiator for the front of the engine compartment for the passage therethrough of fluid from said jacket for the purpose of cooling the same, asecond radiator having the fluid passed therethrough in flowing between the jacket and the first radiator, the second radiator serving primarily as an air heating radiatorand having air to be heated delivered thereto from outside both of said compartments, and an air conduit for conducting the heated air from the second radiator and delivering the same into the passenger compartment.

5. In combination, an automotive vehicle having a body and an engine with a water-circulating cooling system including a water-jacket, a

cooling radiator, a fan therefor, and water-circulating passages leading from said water-jacket I to said cooling radiator and from said cooling radiator back to said water-jacket, a heating element situated outside of said vehicle body and incorporated in the water-circulating passage leading from said water-jacket to said cooling radiator," and an air conduit open at one of its ends to said heating element and opening. at its other end to the interior of said vehicle body, said heating, 7

element being open to receive air from the atmosphere drawn through said cooling radiator by said fan and opening to said air conduit.

6. In a device of the character described, the

combination of a member having intersecting fluid passages, one of said passages providing part of a passage for the-cooling liquid of an engine and providing an element of means for heating the fluidpassing through the other passage by the heat of the cooling liquid, and thermally operable means for controlling the flow of liquid in said first mentioned passage.

'7. In a heater for motor vehicles, said heater having a liquid passage for connection with the liquid passage of the engine of said vehicle, and

having thermally controlled means for controlling the flow of said liquid through said passage, said meansbeing located at the outlet of said passage, said heater having an air passage intersecting the liquid passage, the opposite ends of said air passage respectively opening into the atmosphere and the interior of said vehicle.

8. In a heater for motor vehicles the combination of a member having a passage, one end of which is adapted to be connected with the water jacket of the engine of the vehicle, the opposite end having means whereby this end may be connected with the radiator of said vehicle to complete the circulatory system for the cooling medium of said engine, thermally controlled means provided in said first mentioned passage, said member having an air passage one end of which communicates with the atmosphere, the opposite end of said passage having means whereby a tubular member may be connected thereto to complete a connection between said air passage.

tubular sections extending therefrom, respective- 1y, providing means for supporting said heater by said engine and to connect said heater with the water jacket of said engine, and to a radiator for said engine, said heater also including other tubular sections extending from said casing communicating with the air passages of said casing, said other tubular sections respectively providing an air inlet to said casing and an element adapted to communicate with the interior of said vehicle body providing an outlet of said casing.

10. In a device of the kind described, amember providing a heater for air for the interior of a vehicle body, said heater being adapted to be connected with the circulatory system for the coolduced to said member from the outside of the vehicle body and delivered to the interior of said body, said member having means located between the opposite ends of said passage providing means for supporting said member by said engine and of said member.

11. In a device of thekind described, a member providing a heater for air for a vehicle body, said member being adapted to be connected in a circulatory system for the cooling liquid of an engine and supported by the engine, said member being comprised of a casing having elements respectively providing passages for air and passages for liquid, the latter passages being connected in said circulatory system one of said elements being connected with the outlet of the water. jacket of the engine and providing a support for said member and the other providing an inlet to a radiator for said engine, said casing having an opening which communicates with atmosphere and having a tubular extension-which extends from said casing to the interior of the vehicle body and communicates with said opening of said casing which communicates with the atmosphere.

12. In a device of the kind described, a member providing a heater for airfor a vehicle body, said heater having means adapted to be connectedin the circulatory system for the cooling liquid of an engine and providing for the support of said member by said engine and having an element providing an air passage extending in opposite directions from said heater, one end of said element providing a communication with atmosphere and the opposite end ofsaid element providing means whereby said heater may be connected with the interior of said vehicle.

13. In a device of the kind described, a member providing a heater for air for a vehicle body, said member being adapted to be connected in the circulatory system for the cooling liquid of an engine and arranged exteriorly of the body of the vehicle, said member having intersecting passages, respectively, providing an air and a liquid passage, the liquid passage being connected in said circulatory system between the outlet of the water jacket for said engine and the inlet to a radiator for said engine, one end of said liquid passage providing a connection and a support whereby said heater may be connected with and supported by said engine, the air passage having one end opening to atmosphere and having the opposite end in communication with the interior of the vehicle body.

ALBERT H. BATES. 

